Garment folder printer press



- Jan. 31, 1928.

E. J. SCHREMP GARMENT FDLDER PRINTER PRESS Filed Oct. 22, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR E. J. SCHREMP GARMENT FOLDER PRI NTER PRESS Jan. 31, 1928.

Filed Oct. 22. 1924 5 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 f "I; W3 A ORNEYS 'Jan. 31, 1928. 1,557,552 E. J. SCHREMP GARMENT FOLDER PRINTER PRESS Filed Oct, 22. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 l I Q i I I INVENTOR [award J Sch/(mp B I r I [QM Patented Jan. 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES EDWARD J. 80 I on nocnnsrnn, new You.

GARMENT FOLDER PRINTER PRESS.

Application filed October 22, 1824. Serial No. 745,189.

This invention relates to work handling machinery and improvements therein designed to*'redi1 ce the cost of finishin garments and the like such as knit goo s and 3 making them ready to box. More particularly the invention relates to a new type of combined press, folding, printing, and repressing machine for use in connection with pressing the garment in open position, folding it up, I printing the manufacturers data such as trade mark and size numbers thereon, and finally repressing the folded garment.

A main object of the invention is to produce a combination press, folder and printer machine for use by garment manufacturers whereby the present cost entailed in finishing garments is greatly reduded and whereby the appearance is improved and sales value of the goods is greatly enhanced.

A feature of this garment handling lant is the ability of the manufacturer to uild and install the units separately for in some cases a knitting mi'll may not wish to employ the printing and stamping machine and so my invention readily accommodates this customer for I have planned my work handling plant so the separate units thereof may be omitted thereby enabling the smaller knitting mills, not wanting the larger and more expensive equipment, to install the combination press and folder only which two units perform admirably together without the repress and printing machine. Thereafter the printing machine and repress may be installed and used in combination with the original press and folder should the user desire to enlarge upon his equipment and improve on the quality of work turned out.

In the manufacture of garments such for example as knit goods, the garment is usually put through several stages of treatment prior to being boxed and such treatment has necessarily heretofore been performed at the expense of considerable labor. For example the garment, as a piece of underwear, is usually pressed in spread-out flat condition whereupon it is folded by hand and made ready for boxing and packing. It is desirable, in fact necessary to stamp the manufacturers data on the garment, or this data may be tagged as with a label or card hearing the trade mark and size data. These several separate operations entail time, considerable time, since it has been the ractice pose of my invention is to co-ordinate the heretofore separate and broken steps into one well-organized operation by providing a work or garment handling plant which acts continuously on the garment from the time the garment is made ready for the first pressing operation and throughout until the garment is folded, printed, repressed andturned out as a completed product ready to be placed in a box.

Other objects of the invention will appear as a description thereof continues.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention serving to disclose the principle thereof and in some particulars the construction thereof, as well as the mode of operation. It is understood that changes may necessarily be made without departing from the scope of the invention in order to best carry the invention into effect.

Figure 1 shows a plan view of the general assembly; and Figure 2 illustrates a side view thereof, except in Figure 2 the overhead return conveyor is omitted for clearness.

Figure}? shows a detailed and enlarged I Figure 8 illustrates a sectional view developed on the line 88 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 illustrates a fragmentary corner view in perspective of an automatic tri employed to actuate one of the foldable eaves of the folding tray, and the parts are here spread apart to better show the construction.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 1010 of Figure 6.

Figure 11 shows an end view of the combination repress and printer; and Figure 12 shows a side view thereof.

. Figure 13 is a diagrammatic top view of the entire system omitting all details of construction.

In describing the invention in detail, reference is first had to Figure 5 for a general understanding and enlargement of the purpose in view, for in this view my garment folding tray is shown, such tray being more fully set forth in my co-pending patent application Serial Number 656,383 filed August 8, 1923. In Figure 5, the successive steps employed to open and close the tray and fold up the work are shown in diagrammatic form upon the tray. while at the extreme right the samegarment is shown in folded box or package size 15 which is its condition after being pressed, folded. printed and repressed.

The tray essentially comprises an end foldable leaf 16, side leaves 17 and 18 together with asmall end leaf 19. A rigid or stationary center plate 20 is made the size of the box or package in which the garment is to be placed at the end of the folding operation. This center stationary tray plate20 stands rigidly while the several foldahlc leaves all throw successively inwardly toward the center plate 20 and then folded back to make room for the next leaf to be thrown over and returned by a mechanically operated folder mechanism hereinafter described.

Reference is further directed in general to thedrawings for a description of the general organization of the several machines entering into the make-up of this work handling system and plant and garment finishing apparatus wherein the work is conveyed through several departments of treatment. beginning with an unpressed open garment and ending with a pressed, folded and printed garment ready to be boxed for shipment.

A pressing machine of any approved design is mounted in alignment with a conveyor belt 23 and this belt is adapted to carry the work, as on the tray already mentioned, through the press whereby the work is pressed in open flat spread out posit on. Any suitable form of pressing machine may be employed, and it is ofttimes desirable to employ steam heated and steam spraying presses as well as air cooling facilities formlng a part thereof in order that the work be properly conditioned for the finishing treatments. In the resent instance a fixed head 24 and a mova le bed 25 constitute the press jaws while the operating mechanism such as a plunger 26 driven by gears 27, constitute the jaw closing mechanism; and the conveyor belt 23 moves between the jaws and is pressed thereby. The movable bed or buck 25 periodically lifts upwardly with great force to move the conveyor belt 23 with its work or garment thereon against the fixed jaw 24 thereby performing the pressing operation.

After being pressed the work and tray proceeds to a folder where the pressed garment is doubled up to box size. This folcling machine 30 is equipped with traveling cam chains 31 and 32 which run in parallel relation and are preferably arranged on each side of the machine to throw folder arms into action against the tray leaves by which the folding operation is accomplished. It is to be understood that other suitable tray leaf throw mechanism may be employed as well as that about to be described, but to illustrate my invention, I show a traveling member executing a camming action to swing the tray leaves closed and opened. Cams 33 and 34 are anchored to the chains in spaced relation. on the opposite side of the chain links which line up each cam with the respective folder arms it is designed to actuate. and cam 33 is in advance whereupon it rides against an arm 35 throwing it upwardly carrying the tray leaf 16 over toward the leaf 19 which doubles the garment upon itself on a line midway thereof and transverse to the length of the garment. The large end tray leaf 16 now rests upon return arms 36 which swing upwardly thereby lifting the leaf 16 and straightening it out on the belt to original flat position; and this motion of the arm is initiated by contact of the cam 34;"with 11 depending arm 37 which swings a gear 38, see Figure 7 whichturns a reverse gear 39, which in turn turns a gear 40 integral with the lifting arms 36. The weight of these parts causes them to grawitate back to nor mal position. The chain and camming means are driven in time with the travel of the belt and tray thereby causing the cams 33 and 34 to approach the respective throw arms of the folder 230 in unison with the approach of the respective tray leaves to the same arms.

In the particular machine described, the cam 34 is called upon to operate the return arms 36 only whereupon it travels inoperative until it completes the chain circuit and returns to act on the next tray. However, it is to be understood that in some machines constructed in accordance with this invenill) memos tion, the chain or possibly a cam shaft, is rovided with additional cams to more rapidly execute the folding operation. I only explain the mode of operation of one or two wardly by reason of the cam 33 impinging an arm 43 fixed to rotate a shaft 44 which turns a gear 45 meshing with and turning a gear 46 anchored to the aforesaid arm 42. Having swung the leaf 17 inwardly it is opened up to original flat position by action of an arm 46 driven downwardly by a folder arm 47 caused to swing against said tray arm 46 when the cam 33 drives against said folder arm 47. Observing Figure 9, the said tray arm 46 stands out from an integral hub 48 which houses a spring 49 having'one end anchored on a shaft 50 which turns freely inthe said tray plate 20 and having the other spring end fastened in the hub. When the arm 46 goes down, a lug 51 thrusts up to impinge the edge of the tray leaf resting thereon which flips the tray leaf back to fiat open position. The spring 19 automatically returns the arm 46 up to its original position ready to repeat the operation. It is to be understood that Figure 9 is spread apart in inoperative position.

it will be understood by those conversant with the art, that actuating mechanism of a similar character, as the arm 53. is acted on by the cam chain 32 to close the other tray side leaf 18 in a manner similar to that already described in closing the first side leaf 17. Likewise a folder arm 54 opens up the side leaf 18.

'lihere remains to be closed and opened, the end leaf 19. The tray moves forwardly and a crank arm 55 fixed to a tray shaft 56 strikes the upper end of a non-swinging arm 57 which turns the crank downwardly which rotates the shaft 56 and, since this shaft is fixed to the leaf 19. this final leaf folder is swung up and over to make the garment 14 hon size 15. In order to permit the belt and tray to travel onwardly, the arm 57 is thrust aside laterally by the cam 33 impinging the lower angular end 58, and after the tray crank 55 has passed, a spring 59 restores the arm 57 to its original position in line with cam 33. A coil spring 56 on the shaft 56 has one end anchored to the shaft 56 and hence to the leaf 1?), and the other end of this spring is anchored to tray leaf 20 o otherwise held against movement. 'ljins' spring is caused to be wound under considerable tension by leaf 19 when the latter is swung up and over toward center leaf 20 by cranlr 55. This tension in the wound up spring reacts and unwinds thereby opening up the leaf 19 and throwing it back to normally flat posit-ion after trip arm 57 has released crank 55. Thus the spring 56 or any other suitable means restores the folding leaf element 19 to normal open flat position.

The garment is now completely folded up and the conveyor and tray bearing the small size bundle-like garmentnow proceeds to a repress and printer.

Coming now to a description of an improved combination repress and stamping machine, the numeral 61 oints out the standard or frame of a smal pressing machine usually referred to herein as a repress since it is adapted to press the garment a second time, such pressing being carried out after the garment has been folded up into a small bundle 15. This repress 61 may be made with a fixed head 62 and a movable buck or bed 63, and the bed is reciprocated up and down by a plunger mechanism 64: or other suitable means which is driven by a gear set 65 in turn driven by a main power shaft 66. After the folding tray and gar-' .a unitary printing attachment preferably made a part of the repress. One form of the printing machine is illustrated herewith,but it is to be understood that various other types of printers may be combined With the repress or operated separately therefrom. A bracket 69 carries a magazine roll or drum 70 upon which is mounted unused printing or transfer tape 71 adapted to be wound upon an empty drum 7 2 as the printing proceeds and as the tape 71 is used up. A printing tape feed roller 73 drives the tape 71 through the'slotted press head 62 and as the folded garment 15 is pressed by the pressing bed 63, the printing or transfer tape 71 is impressed against the folded garment 15 to leave the manufacturers trade mark and size data thereon. Thus the folded garment 15 is simultaneously pressed and printed by a single movement of the pressing bed 63. Suitable ratchet mechanism is employed to advance the tape 71 through the press head 62 and this is shown diagrammatically by an arm 7a which is anchored to the reciprocating bed 63. This arm 7d carries a spring 7 5 pressing a pawl 67 against a ratchet wheel 76 which periodically turns the drum 7 3 thus advancing the tape 71 forwardly to the next transfer c; ink-yielding portion as designated by the numeral 77 in igure 11 where the garment makers brand is shown.

The conveyor belt 28 is carried upon drums 80 and 81, spaced apart the length of the plant. The upper section of the belt .23 is adapted to travel to the right progressively through the pressing machine 24, past the folder 230, and into the combination repress and printer 61 and hence the work gradually moves forwardly toward a receiving table 82. Another receiving table 83 is placed at the left-hand end of the plant and is adapted to receive the trays when returned thereto by a return conveyor system which will now be described.

A gravity feed conveyor 86 has its lower end positioned adjacent the table 83 and is adapted to deliver the tray to this table. A tray pick up conveyor 87 connects the gravity conveyor 86 with the garment carrying conveyor 23, and the pick up conveyor comprises a belt or belts 87 operating a hook 88 which is attached either automatically or manually by an operator to the folding tray subsequently to the passage of the tray from the repress 61, and so the pick up action of the conveyor 87 pulls the tray upwardly from the belt 23 to the gravity feed conveyor 86 whereupon the tray runs down the conveyor 86 to the receiving table 83. The reconvcyor 86-87 is operated by a. power belt 89. The folded, pressed. printed and repressed garment drops off the opened up tray onto the belt 23 and is carried to the table 82 when the hook 88 picks up the tray and startshauling it upwardly along the belt 87'.

In Figure 1 I have illustrated one form of power mechanism for driving the entire plant which comprises an electric motor 92 geared to a main drive shaft 93 which revolves the drum 81 and thereby causes the conveyor belt 23 to travel through the several machines or departments of work treatment. A stop and start switch control handle 94 is adapted to control the motor 92, either through a switch or other suitable means. Gears 95 drivethrough gears 96 to amain drive shaft 97' which connects with the drivegcars 27 of the pressing machine 94 and so it follows that the shaft 97 drives through gears 27 and through the shaft 66 to operate the combination repress and printing machine 61. The main drum drive shaft 93 also carries gears 98 which drives the shaft 41 to operate the shaft -12 on the folding machine 30.

The conveyor belt 23 and the garment tray are made with connecting means by which the tray is firmly fixed to the belt during travel through the several machines. One connection as employed for description purposes consists in a perforation 101 made in the belt 23 and a lug 102 is anchored to the underneath side of the center stationary tray plate or body and the lug registers wit the perforation 101 whereby the tray is positively attached to the belt 23 until it has passed through the repress and the tray is picked up by the hooks 88 and lifted from the conveyor 23 and started back home a previously described.

In the operation and use of the machine, a tray is moved from the table 83 onto the belt 23 whereupon the work is spread upon the tray, or the tray is first loaded with work while on the table 83 and then slipped across the table onto the belt. The machine starter handle 9% is actuated which causes the drum 81 to make a partial revolution therefore moving the belt 23 forwardly one cycle which is to say the belt 23 is moved sutiiciently far to convey the tray into the press 24-. The tray which was previously acted on by the press 24: moves forwardly one stage or step operation onto the folding machine 30. The shaft 97 operates through the gears 27 to reciprocate the plunger :26 and lift the buck to press and steam the garment 14 carried on the tray.

While the garment laden tray is being acted on by the press 2i, another tray has by now reached the table 83 by route of the return conveyor 86-87 whereupon this tra is similarly loaded with new work and laid across the table onto the conveyor belt 23 at which time the motor control handle 94 is actuated to produce a periodic rotation of the drum 71 to move the belt 23 forwardly to produce another operation. The motor control handle 94 is necessaril actuated each time a new tray load of wor is started through the machine. The motor may be equipped with a clutch drive mechanism by which it is automatically stopped to cause the work to dwell in each machine, or an electrical timing system may be used to periodically stop and start the motor and transmission means whereby the tray advances one station at a time and stops. For example, each time the operator moves a new tray loaded with work off of the table 83 onto the conveyor 23, a completely pressed, folded, stamped and repressed garment shoots oif the tray onto the table 82 and the empty tray is picked up by the book 88 and is started back to the point of origin by the return conveyor; and the action of the pick up means such as the book 88 causes the completed work in bundle form 15 to scoot down on the table 82 where it is boxed.

This work handling plant is especially designed for refinishing garments such as underwear and the like where it is desirable to first press the garment in open spread out position and afterwards fold it as well as print and repress the same. The manufacturer of garments such as underwear and the like is presently handicapped in production owing to the slow metho s of pressing, folding, stamping and boxing, for heretofore the garment has receivedone pressing operation whereupon it was folded by hand and then hand stamped and boxed without the advantage of repressing the folded bundle. But by the adoption of my garment and work handling system and apparatus as here1n before described, the manufacturer not only requires less labor to do the work, but 111- creases production and turns out a higher class line of goods manifesting nicer finish which enhances its value on the market. Furthermore, the repressed garment takes up less space in the box which represents a marked advantage.

An improved feature of the invention is the synchronized relationship of the machines throughout for it is observed that the several apparently independently operating units are all connected to operate in synchronism one with the other so that while the garment on the folding tray is being pressed, the garment on the forward tray s being folded, while the one ahead thereof 18 being repressed and printed. It is appreciated how a single motor 92 is employed to operate the entire mechanism. However, it is to be understood that individually motored apparatus may be installed as a unitary part of this garment or work handling plant, and in this way each independent machine may be driven by separate motor means. As for example, the two pressing machines, the folder, the printer, and conveyors if necessary may all be indivldually operated whereupon a motor controller may be employed to operate all the motors in unison to secure'uniformly smooth forwardly operating advancement of the work carrying tray from one machine to another.

1. A garment finishing machine comprising in combination, means supporting a garment; a conveyor transporting the said means and garment thereon successively through a garment press, a folding mechanism, and a garment printing means; and means whereby said press, folding mechanism, and printing means are caused to act upon said garment.

2. A work handling machine comprising in combination, a support upon which work is placed for treatment, means to press the work, means to fold the work, means to repress and imprint data on the said pressed and folded work, and means to convey the support through. all of the "means to be operated on thereby. 3. A work handling machine comprising in combination, a support upon which work is placed for treatment; means carrying the support progressively through and to be operated on by means to press the work, means to fold the work, and means to print the work; and means to return the said support to the original position subsequently to the completion of said treatment in the various means. I

4. A work handling machine comprising in combination, a support upon which work is placed for treatment; means carrying the support progressively through and to be operated on by means to press the work, means to fold the work, means to repress and print the said pressed and folded work; and means to return said support to its original position at the end of the repressing operation.

5. A work handling machine comprising in combination, a work support having swingable elements, conveyor means to carry the support with the work thereon progressively through a press having means to press the work as the support passes therethrough, and a folding machine having means to swing the swingable'elements as the support passes therethrough whereby. to fold up the work.

6. A work handling machine as defined in claim 5, characterized by combining therewith means to print the work, and wherein the conveyor means also passes through said printing means.

7. A work handling machine as defined in claim 5, characterized by combining therewith a mechanism to print and repress the pressed and folded work and wherein the conveyor means passes through said mechanism.

8. A work handling machine as defined in claim 5, characterized by combining therewith a repressing mechanism to again press the work at the end of the pressing and folding operation and wherein the conveyor means passes through said mechanism.

9. A work handling machine as defined in claim 5, characterized by combining through a pressing machine acting on thework, through. a folding machine having means to double up the work to a folded condition, and through a repress to effect a second pressing operation on the work after it is folded.

11. A garment finishing apparatus, comprising a garment folding tray upon which the work is-spread, a conveyor by which the tray is carried through several means of treatment, motor means to drive the conveyor, a pressing machine through which the conveyor carries the tray and by which a garment is first pressed in spread open 0- sition, means to drive the press, a fol er through which the conveyor carries the pressed work and by which the work is folded up, means driving the folder, a printer and repress through which the folded work is carried by the tray and printed and repressed, means operating the printer and repress, a table placed at each end of the conveyor, means causing the folded and finished work to slip from the tray onto the table at one conveyor end, and a reconveyor to pick up the folding tray and return it to the table at the other conveyor end.

12. A garment finishing machine comprising in combination, a folding machine, a pressing machine, a printing machine and a conve or having means to carry a garment, said conveyor passing through the machines, and means to cause the machines to operate to fold, press, and print the garment on the conveyor as it passes through the several machines.

13. A garment finishing machine comprising in combination, a folding machine, a pressing machine, a printing machine and a conveyor having detachable meansto carry a garment, said conveyor passing through the machines, and means to cause the machines to operate to fold, print, and press the garment on the conveyor as it passes through the several machines, and a reconveyor having means to pick up said detachable means to return it to its starting point.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

EDWARD J. SCHREMP 

